Sex attack on woman pushing pram in Vic

A WOMAN who was sexually assaulted while walking with her young daughter along a suburban Melbourne street says she's now scared to go outside and is afraid of men.

The 38-year-old was walking home from an English-language class on Tuesday afternoon when a man ran up from behind, grabbed her around the waist, tried to choke her and groped her.

Her two-year-old daughter, who was in a pram, sobbed as she witnessed the attack.

The traumatised toddler has since told strangers on the street "don't hurt my mummy", the woman said.

She said the man grabbed her in a bear hug, ripped off her jumper and put his hand down her top, and after a struggle brought her to the ground.

He then tried to choke her, kissed her once and repeatedly tried to pull down her pants.

"He tried to strangle me, I couldn't even swallow my own saliva," the woman, speaking through a family member acting as an interpreter, told reporters on Friday.

"I'm scared of all other men besides our family and people I know, and I can't even go out. I'm too scared to go outside."

The man fled when local residents came outside after hearing woman's cries for help, she said.

Detective Senior Constable Andrea Nash said the attack in Sunshine North appeared to be isolated and opportunistic, but warned women in the area to be vigilant of their surroundings.

"The victim is very lucky that there were people around the area who were able to come to her assistance, because certainly this could've escalated into something on a much greater scale," she told reporters.